What a season this has been for Del Oro High School. The Golden Eagles were 2-6 through eight regular season games, but seven straight wins later, Del Oro will play for a state championship next week.
As remarkable as the team’s run to the state title game was the one-handed catch by junior wide receiver Mason Hurt in Friday night’s 28-24 win over Bakersfield Liberty in the NorCal Division II-AA championship game. Hurst’s TD tied the game 7-7, but midway through the third quarter, the Golden Eagles trailed 21-7.
Del Oro tied the game up at 21, before Liberty retook the lead at 24-21.
Late in the game, it was Hurst and quarterback Stone Smartt, who worked more magic, connecting on three passes for 34 yards during Del Oro’s game-winning drive that ended on a 2-yard TD run by Smartt. Hurst finished the game with seven catches for 104 yards.
Friday, Del Oro (9-6) will play Camarillo (15-0) for the Division II-AA state championship.
